Rajnath Singh draws flak for ‘saffronising’ Shivaji

NCP, Maratha outfits condemn Defence Minister’s remarks

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has landed in a controversy following his statement on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with the Nationalist Congress Party and Maratha outfits accusing him of twisting history. “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was trained by Samarth Ramdas Swami and Dadoji Kondadev in sports activities which made him (Shivaji Maharaj) a national hero,” he had said. Mr. Singh’s remarks came in Pune on Friday during his visit to defence establishments, like the Army Sports Institute, to felicitate armed force personnel who participated in the Tokyo Olympics, including Subedaar Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold medal in javelin throw. Sambhaji Brigade, a youth organisation working against the saffronisation of Shivaji Maharaj’s life, has condemned the statement and demanded an apology. “His statement is an attempt to glorify wrong history. Shivaji Maharaj never met Samarth Ramdas in his life. The High Court has said this too. RSS historians have never claimed that Ramdas trained the king in sports,” said Santosh Shinde, regional co-ordinator of the outfit.